Child Welfare Practices, Laws, and Family Engagement Strategies Practice Test

The key idea is that IEPA prohibits using race or ethnicity as a factor in permanent placement decisions. The goal is to prevent discrimination and ensure a child is placed in a safe, suitable home promptly, regardless of the racial or ethnic background of the child or the potential family. Agencies should focus on the child’s safety, needs, and ability of the home to meet those needs, rather than on race or ethnicity. While efforts to honor cultural ties and maintain connections may be important, race or ethnicity cannot be used to justify delaying or denying a placement.